OBJECTIVE The morbidity of gross-total resection of jugular paraganglioma (JP) is often unacceptable due to the potential for irreversible lower cranial neuropathy. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has been used at the authors’ institution since 1990 for the treatment of JP and other benign intracranial tumors. Conventional means of assessing tumor progression using linear measurements or elliptical approximations are imprecise due to the irregular shape and insinuating growth pattern of JP. The objective of this study was to assess long-term tumor control in these patients by using slice-by-slice 3D volumetric segmentation of serial MRI data. METHODS Radiographic data and clinical records were reviewed retrospectively at a single, tertiary-care academic referral center for patients treated from 1990 to 2017. Volumetric analyses by integration of consecutive tumor cross-sectional areas (tumor segmentation) of serial MRI data were performed. Tumor progression was defined as volumetric growth of 15% or greater over the imaging interval. Primary outcomes analyzed included survival free of radiographic and clinical progression. Secondary outcomes included new or worsened cranial neuropathy. RESULTS A total of 85 patients were treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for JP at the authors’ institution over the last 27 years. Sixty patients had pretreatment and serial posttreatment contrast-enhanced MRI follow-up suitable for volumetric analysis. A total of 214 MR images were analyzed to segment tumor images in a slice-by-slice fashion to calculate integral tumor volume. The median follow-up duration was 66 months (range 7–202 months). At 5 years the tumor progression-free survival rate was 98%. Three tumors exhibited progression more than 10 years after GKRS. Estimated survival free of radiographic progression rates (95% confidence interval [CI]; n = number still at risk) at 5, 10, and 15 years following radiosurgery were 98% (95% CI 94%–100%; n = 34), 94% (95% CI 85%–100%; n = 16), and 74% (95% CI 56%–98%; n = 6), respectively. One patient with tumor progression required treatment intervention using external beam radiation therapy, constituting the only case of clinical progression. Two patients (3%) without preexisting lower cranial nerve dysfunction developed new ipsilateral vocal fold paralysis following radiosurgery. CONCLUSIONS SRS achieves excellent long-term tumor control for JP without a high risk for new or worsened cranial neuropathy when used in primary, combined modality, or recurrent settings. Long-term follow-up is critical due to the potential for late radiographic progression (i.e., more than 10 years after SRS). As none of the patients with late progression have required salvage therapy, the clinical implications of this degree of tumor growth have yet to be determined.
Synchronous nephron‐sparing approaches for bilateral renal masses: peri‐operative and renal functional outcomes
Objectives To evaluate the peri‐operative and renal functional outcomes of patients undergoing synchronous bilateral partial nephrectomy (PN) or percutaneous cryoablation (PCA). Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed our institutional nephrectomy and renal mass ablation registries to identify all patients with synchronous bilateral renal masses who underwent simultaneous bilateral PN ( n = 76) or PCA ( n = 13) between 1974 and 2013. Changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as well as peri‐operative complications are descriptively reported for each procedure. Results The number of treated renal masses in the 76 patients in the PN group and the 13 patients in the PCA group was 249 and 28, respectively. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age at treatment was 62 (50, 71) years for the PN group and 67 (56, 72) for the PCA group. The median (IQR) maximum tumour sizes were 4.6 (3.4, 6.5) cm and 2.6 (2.4, 3.2) cm for the PN and PCA groups, respectively. The median (IQR) length of hospital stay was 7 (5, 8) days for the PN group and 1 (1, 10) days for the PCA group. The median (IQR) change in eGFR from baseline to discharge was −32 (−46, −15)% for the PN group and −17% (−33, −3) for the PCA group. By 3 months, median (IQR) renal function improved, with changes of −9 (−19, 0)% and −8 (−11, 15)%, respectively, compared with baseline. No patient in either group required renal replacement therapy in the peri‐operative period. Early postoperative complications (within 30 days) occurred in 16 patients (21.6%) in the PN and four patients in the PCA group. In particular, angioembolization for bleeding was required in the postoperative period in two patients (2.7%) in the PN and one patient in the PCA group. Conclusions Our experience suggests that synchronous bilateral PN or PCA are feasible treatment options for select patients presenting with bilateral renal masses. In select cases, both approaches appear to have reasonable rates of peri‐operative complications and effects on renal function.
Vulvar neoplasms in 275 women with genital lichen sclerosus and impact of treatment: a retrospective chart review
AbstractPurposeThe probability of achieving important clinical outcomes is an increasingly important factor for patients considering various treatment options for tooth loss. For oral reconstruction involving dental implants, the patient‐specific risks of implant failure may be influenced by the patient's medication profile. The purpose of this study was to identify associations between dental implant failure and medication use in a consecutive series of patients seen from October 1983 through December 2014 at the Department of Dental Specialties, Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota).Materials and MethodsIn this patient‐level analysis, demographic, implant‐specific, and medical profile data were abstracted from a prospective clinical database and individual medical records and used to determine the time to first implant failure. Implant failure‐free survival at the patient level was estimated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. Associations of demographic characteristics and medication use with implant failure were evaluated by using Cox proportional hazards regression models and summarized with hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.ResultsIn the 31‐year study period, 6358 patients received their first dental implant (median age, 53 years). The median follow‐up duration of the 5645 patients whose implants did not fail was 5.8 years, and 713 patients had implant failure (median, 0.6 years). All associations were adjusted for age, sex, and era of implantation because these features strongly influence medication use and implant failure. After adjustment, no medication increased the risk of implant failure in the cohort; specifically, medication use at the time of implant placement or starting a medication after implant placement did not increase the risk of implant failure. Among the medications used at the time of implant placement, corticosteroids were associated with a reduced risk of implant failure (hazard ratio, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.67‐0.99; p = 0.04). This association was not seen when corticosteroids were started after implant placement.ConclusionIn the population studied, medication use was not associated with an increased risk of dental implant failure.
The probability of indolent versus aggressive histology based on renal tumor size: Implications for surveillance and treatment.
704 Background: While the probability of benign versus malignant histology based on renal tumor size has been described, this alone does not sufficiently inform decision-making in the modern era since indolent malignant tumors can be surveilled. Thus, we sought to characterize the probability of indolent versus aggressive histology based on radiographic tumor size. Methods: We evaluated patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy at Mayo Clinic for a pT1-2, pNx/0, M0 solid renal tumor between 1990-2010. Pathology was reviewed by one genitourinary pathologist. Benign tumors, low grade (1-2) clear cell and papillary renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and any chromophobe, clear cell papillary, mucinous tubular and spindle cell, SDH-B deficient, and tubulocystic RCC were considered indolent. All other histologies were considered aggressive, as were any malignancies with necrosis or sarcomatoid differentiation. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was estimated using the Kaplan Meier method. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the probability of malignant and aggressive histology based on tumor size. Sex-stratified analyses were also performed. Results: Of the 2650 patients included, there were 1773 patients with indolent tumors (303 benign; 1470 malignant) and 877 with aggressive tumors. Ten-year CSS was 96% for indolent malignant tumors and 82% for aggressive tumors. The predicted probabilities of any malignant histology and aggressive malignant histology increased with tumor size (Table; 1-7cm point estimates shown). For example, a 3 cm tumor had an 87% probability of malignancy and a 27% probability of being aggressive. For any given tumor size, men had a greater probability of aggressive histology than women. Conclusions: We present tumor size-based estimates of the probability of aggressive histology for renal masses. This information should be useful for patient counseling and treatment decision-making. [Table: see text]
Creation of a tissue expression biomarker-augmented prognostic model for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
703 Background: Clinical and pathologic factors alone have limited prognostic ability in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We sought to determine if tissue biomarkers, along with our previously reported clinical metastases score, can be used to predict cancer specific survival (CSS) in patients with metastatic ccRCC. Methods: Patients with metastatic ccRCC who underwent nephrectomy between 1990-2004 were identified using the Mayo Clinic Nephrectomy Registry. Sections from paraffin-embedded primary tumor tissue blocks were used for immunohistochemistry staining for PD-1, B7-H1 (PD-L1), B7-H3, Bim (downstream pro-apoptotic signaling molecule in PD-1 pathway), CA-IX, IMP3, Ki67, and survivin. CSS was the primary outcome. Biomarkers that were significantly associated with CSS after adjusting for the metastases score were used to develop a biomarker-specific multivariable model using a bootstrap resampling approach and forward selection. Predictive ability was summarized using a bootstrap-corrected c-index. Results: The cohort included 602 patients, 192 (32%) with metastases at diagnosis and 410 (68%) who developed metastases after nephrectomy. Median follow-up among survivors was 9.6 years (IQR 4.2,12.8) and 504 patients died of RCC. Bim, IMP3, Ki67, and survivin expression were significantly associated with CSS after adjusting for the metastases score and were used to develop a biomarker-specific model. High Bim (HR 1.44; 95%CI 1.16-1.78; p < 0.001), high survivin (HR 1.35; 95%CI 1.08-1.68; p = 0.008), and the metastases score (HR 1.13 per one point; 95%CI 1.10-1.16; p < 0.001) were retained as independent predictors in the final multivariable model (c-index 0.69). Conclusions: We created a prognostic model combining the clinical metastases score and two primary tissue expression biomarkers, Bim and survivin, for patients with metastatic RCC who underwent nephrectomy. External validation will be required prior to clinical use.
Dural Invasion Predicts the Laterality and Development of Neck Metastases in Esthesioneuroblastoma
Objectives Neck metastases in patients with esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) constitute the most significant predictor of poor long-term survival. Recently, researchers discovered the existence of dural lymphatic channels that drain to the cervical lymph nodes. From this physiologic basis, we hypothesized that patients with ENB who develop dural invasion (DI) would exhibit a proclivity for neck metastases. Design Retrospective review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Participants All patients treated for ENB from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2015. Main Outcome Measures Incidence, laterality, and recurrence rate of neck metastases by DI status. Results Sixty-one patients were identified (38% female; median age 49, range, 10–80), 34 (56%) of whom had DI and 27 (44%) did not. Of patients with DI, 50% presented with or developed neck disease following treatment compared with just 22% of those without DI (p = 0.026). Bilateral neck disease was more common in patients with DI (11/34, 32%) compared with those without (2/27, 7%) (p = 0.018). Five-year regional recurrence-free survival rates were 88% for those without and 64% for those with DI (p = 0.022). Kadish C patients with DI were more likely to develop regional recurrence when compared with Kadish C without DI and Kadish A/B (p = 0.083). Further, Kadish C patients with DI displayed worse overall survival than Kadish C without DI and Kadish A/B. Kadish D patients displayed the worst overall survival. The difference in overall survival among these four groups was significant (p < 0.001). Conclusion DI by ENB is associated with increased incidence of cervical nodal metastases, bilateral neck disease, worse regional recurrence-free survival, and poorer overall survival. These data support the division of Kadish C by DI status.
Evaluating the validity of subclassifying warfarin‐associated nonuremic calciphylaxis: a retrospective cohort study
AbstractBackgroundCalciphylaxis is a devastating multifactorial disorder of the subcutaneous fat that is known to be associated with hypercoagulability. Recent literature has proposed subclassifying patients with calciphylaxis as having warfarin‐associated or warfarin‐unassociated disease.AimWe aimed to determine whether patients with warfarin‐associated calciphylaxis differ clinically from patients with warfarin‐unassociated calciphylaxis.Materials and methodsWe performed a subgroup analysis of patients with nonuremic calciphylaxis from a previously studied cohort and compared clinical and outcomes features of patients who were taking warfarin at the time of disease onset to those of patients who were not.ResultsNineteen patients with nonuremic calciphylaxis were identified, including 10 (53%) who had been on warfarin at the time of disease onset and 9 (47%) who had not. Of all clinical and outcomes parameters tested, no significant differences were detected between the two groups.Discussion and ConclusionsThough this study is limited by its retrospective nature and the relatively small number of patients studied, available data do not support subclassifying patients with nonuremic calciphylaxis as having warfarin‐associated or warfarin‐unassociated disease. Rather, the body of literature would suggest that identification and correction of underlying disorders of hypercoagulability should be prioritized.
Transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal carcinoma: Surgical margins and oncologic outcomes
AbstractBackgroundThis study presents oncologic outcomes after transoral robotic surgery (TORS) ± adjuvant therapy for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).MethodsThree hundred fourteen patients undergoing TORS ± adjuvant therapy for oropharyngeal SCC from May 1, 2007, to May 31, 2015, are analyzed.ResultsMedian follow‐up was 3.3 years (interquartile range [IQR] 1.8‐5.3 years; range 1 day to 9.3 years). Estimated locoregional recurrence‐free survival, distant metastasis‐free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS), and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) rates (95% confidence interval [CI] number still at risk) at 5 years after surgery were 92% (88‐95; 92), 90% (86‐94; 92), 86% (82‐92; 98), and 94% (91‐97; 98), respectively. Negative margins were achieved in 98% of cases. The adult comorbidity evaluation (ACE)‐27 comorbidity index, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, pathologic N classification, and number of attempts to clear margins were associated with death due to cancer (P = .003, P = .002, P = .030, and P = .002, respectively).ConclusionThe need to take ≥2 margins to achieve resection portends an increased risk of locoregional recurrence and death due to disease in oropharyngeal SCC.
Predictors of Urology Resident Surgical Skills, Clinical Communication Skills, Common Sense and In-Service Scores